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Kids Fight Cancer is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that supports the Oncology Activity Center by funding to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

In 1985, Jim Pesoli, a four-time cancer survivor, decided it was time to give back to the community as a response to the support his friends and family gave him while undergoing a bone marrow transplant and numerous months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

For over 20 years, Kids Fight Cancer has been dedicated to providing a safe, educational, and exciting environment for children battling cancer. The activity center provides young patients with the ability to lessen their fears of visiting the hospital. "The doctors and nurses depend upon the activity center to help put the kids at ease prior to blood work, checkups, bone taps and chemotherapy," says Jim Pesoli, founder of Kids Fight Cancer.

"It's very scary, even for adults, to be faced with fighting cancer. It just wouldn't be fair to watch a child who cannot fully comprehend what they are going through to be forced to sit awkwardly in a waiting room. The activity center changes that. The children are able to play games, visit with other patients their age, learn about their illness, and lose some of the fears they carry with them when they enter the hospital," says Pesoli.

Kids Fight Cancer has grown as an organization that no longer only provides toys and games, but undertakes countless efforts to raise awareness, fund cancer research, provide palliative care to terminally ill patients, and give hope to the patients and their families.

The activity center creates hope and encourages the children to brave it through their treatments, because once they are done, they can go back and pick up where they left off.

"Some of the kids will be in the middle of things when they are called to have their procedure done," Jim explains. "The most reassuring thing is when they say, 'This has to stay here, because I'm going to come back here and finish it.'"

Kids Fight Cancer continuously strives to find donors sympathetic to its cause. "It's sad and tragic that in today's society almost everyone knows someone close to them who has been impacted by cancer, but it's our goal to help the children so that they have a helping hand when they need it most," said Pesoli.

Annually, such events as dinner dances, golf outings, Walk-A-Thons, casino nights, and other social events are held to raise funds for Children's Memorial Hospital in support of the Oncology Activity Center. In addition to these activities, individuals can support Kids Fight Cancer through the Annual Fund Program, the Giving Society, and take part in the Kids Fight Cancer Challenge. Donors can also aid Kids Fight Cancer by volunteering their time to help prepare for events, visit with the children at the hospital, and campaign for a cancer-free society.

Your big hearts keep our little hearts happy!